Chapter 21 – Viva Italiano!

Jason explained his plan with Milo as the girls listened in.

"I want to help Jason," Liz pleaded.

Jason shook his head. "I need you to stay here and guard your sister. If you come and something bad happens, the feds are going to pull you in and do anything in their power to get you to rat everyone out. They will threaten you and you'll be sleep deprived until they emotionally break you down. They might even try to pin a murder on you. I don't want to see you have to go through all of that."

"Have I messed up once this entire time?"

"No. You've been completely badass."

Sarah smiled at the statement.

"But, we have got to play this smartly. If we don't get Sonny out of there, Tomas is going to be in a shit load of trouble and Sonny will turn on us."

Liz knew he was right, but it still didn't make her any happier about it.

"Milo, figure out where we can get some wet suits and gear."

Milo grabbed his phone. "I'm already on it."

"Is there anything else I can do?" Liz said helplessly.

Jason smiled at her and said, "You can help me get all the guns and ammo together."

"Ok, let's go."

They headed towards the garage.

"What about me?" Sarah said loudly.

"You're coming with me." Milo said smiling.

"Where are we going?"

"To get some gear."

"Let me go grab my shoes." She said running up the stairs.

Sarah ran into the bathroom to check her hair and threw on some tennis shoes. This was so much more exciting than her day job.

Milo waited for her in the car. He watched her smiling and running towards him.

"Ok. I'm ready."

Milo smiled and turned on the radio. He pulled out of the driveway and made his way back on the road.

"Where are we going?"

"My cousin Joey has a few wetsuits he can loan us. We're going to head over to his house."

"Sounds good. I love the 80's." She said seat dancing.

They both sang to the radio the whole way. It took about forty minutes to get to his cousins house.

"You want to come in?"

She nodded. "Sure, why not?"

"I have to warn you. Joey's mom is pathological about food. If she offers you a plate, take it. If you don't, I'll never hear the end of it and if she starts talking about babies, just play along with it."

Sarah laughed. "Ok, maybe we'll have some fun with her then."

Milo flashed her a look. "Seriously, his mom is crazy. You don't want to mess with her. She will have a priest over to the house before you can blink your eyes. You'll be Mrs. Milo Giambetti and you won't know what hit you."

Sarah was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. "Okay, I won't poke the bear."

He knocked on the door. "Brace yourself," he muttered under his breath.

Sarah nodded and waited patiently for someone to open the door.

"Milo, what's up bro?" Joey said patting him on the back. He noticed Sarah right away.

"Holy shit. Where'd you get the fighetta?"

Milo smacked him upside the head. "What your language. This is my cousin Joey."

"And I'm Sarah."

"Where are my manners? Come in," Joey said before stepping aside.

"Are you fucking crazy bringing her here?" he whispered.

Sarah could hear everything he said and giggled.

"Relax, I warned her. We're good."

"Uh last words." Joey said making a face. "Ma! Milo is here and he brought a girl."

Milo turned to Joey and punched him in the arm. Joey recoiled and said, "Ouch, that hurt."

"Wus."

Joey's mother barreled into the room. She is about 5'2 and very round.

"Milo, my boy." She strode towards him muttering Italian and hugged him and then pulled back. "Come closer," she said waving him in.

Milo leaned down to her and she smacked him upside the head.

"Ouch."

"It has been five months since I've seen you. You should be ashamed yourself. I could have died and you wouldn't have even known it."

Sarah tried to hold back from laughing, but she made a slight noise and Joey's mom was on her.

"Who's this?" She stood in front of Sarah looking her up and down.

"It's my friend, Sarah, auntie."

"I see. I'm Milo's Aunt Alma." With narrow eyes, she continued to check Sarah out.

"Nice to meet you," Sarah said sweetly.

"Come." She turned on her heel and briskly headed for the kitchen with Milo on her arm. "She has manners that one, but she's too skinny. Does she eat?"

Milo laughed.

She motioned for Sarah to sit.

"I'll make you a meatball sandwich."

The rest followed suit and she quickly assembled the sandwiches and served them. Sarah took a bite of it and her eyes grew big.

"That is really good."

Alma looked at her like it was the only option.

"My great, great, grandmother passed that recipe down to me. If you can't make good meatballs and gravy in my family…..." She made a sound and used her finger to slice her throat.

Sarah glanced at Milo who is trying not to laugh.

"So, when are you going to make an honest man out of my Milo?"

At her serious tone, Sarah almost choked on a meatball. She grabbed a glass of water and started drinking as Milo patted her on the back.

"Um, Milo and I just started dating."

Milo grinned.

"Well, back in the old days that's all it took. He likes her, she likes him; it was a done deal. " She wiped her hands together.

"Yeah Milo," Joey said.

"You shut up over there. You're thirty-two and you can't even get a date. I'm gonna have one foot in the grave before I get a grandchild."

"Come on Ma….." Joey said whining.

They finished eating and Joey went and got the gear and put it in the car.

"Auntie, we've got to go."

She pouted and then walked up to him. "I made some sandwiches to go." She handed him a bag. "She can eat them later."

Milo chuckled.

"It was nice meeting you," Sarah said.

Alma gave Sarah a warm hug. "Be good to my Milo." She turned and walked by hutch and then came to a screeching halt. "Hold on," she said as she grabbed a tape measure.

Milo grimaced.

"I didn't always look like this you know. I was pretty hot back in the day. I think that you could fit into my wedding dress. Hold your arms out."

Sarah looked at Milo for help. Finally, Joey interrupted. "Ma, leave the poor girl alone. They have to go."

"Alright, alright." She wandered back to the kitchen mumbling in Italian.

"Who's she talking to?" Sarah whispered.

"My Uncle Vito, he's been dead 10 years—may God rest his soul. He had a trash compactor accident. " Joey said shaking his head. "If he ever answers back, I'm outta here." Joey face contorted with fear.

"Yeah...like you'll ever stop living at home," Milo said.

"You owe me." Joey said poking Milo.

"I owe you alright. You're lucky I have to go."

"I can always yell for Ma."

Milo put Joey in a headlock and then let him go and Joey started yelling. "Ma….."

Milo grabbed Sarah's hand and made a run for it and then started the SUV and peeled away.

Sarah was laughing so hard her sides and face hurt.

They stopped at a stoplight and Milo staring at a spot on her face.

"What, is something there?"

"Just a little sauce. It's cute."

She smiled and looked in the mirror. "Maybe I should leave it there to make Liz jealous. There is no way she's getting her grubby hands on those meatballs. She'll have to pry them from my cold, dead hands."

Milo laughed. "I don't know if you are a match for the Inhaler."

Sarah giggled. "By the way, what's a fighetta?"

Milo blushed, "It basically means you're hot."

"I think that is my nickname. It's better than the Inhaler. I can't wait to tell Liz."

They joked about Aunt Alma and Joey the whole way back. Milo is developing a serious crush and Sarah is feeling Milo too.